Metro Voice News Celebrating Faith, Family & Community
More than one billion men, women and children suffer from neglected tropical diseases like leprosy, or NTDs, with global NTD cases continuing to challenge healthcare systems.
The numbers are staggering – and sobering. In 2023, 182,815 new leprosy cases were reported worldwide, with three countries bearing the brunt of the disease. India alone reported over 107,000 cases – more than half of the global total. Brazil and Indonesia each logged more than 10,000 new cases, creating a troubling geographic cluster of persistent infection. The disease isn’t just a historical footnote. It’s a living, breathing challenge that continues to impact millions, particularly in regions with limited healthcare access.
Offering hope to those shunned by society remains a critical mission. Remarkably, around 95 percent of the global population is immune to leprosy, and the disease is curable with antibiotics if detected early. Yet the social stigma remains a profound challenge for those affected.
Individuals suffering from these diseases often lack access to proper medical care to treat their severe physical pain. Additionally, those afflicted with illness are subject to social stigmatization and often are cast out of their communities to suffer alone.
The nonprofit ministry American Leprosy Missions has rebranded as Hope Rises International. The new name embodies a comprehensive picture of the organization’s work and mission: healing disease, restoring people to their communities and proclaiming the gospel.
“We have recognized the need for an organizational name that more fully represents who we are: a name that reflects both the longstanding historical impact of our work around the world and the future we strive toward, a name that invites a new generation to join in this critical work while honoring those who have supported us for so many years, a name that strikes at the heart of what we have always been about,” President and CEO Bill Simmons said. “Hope Rises International embodies a comprehensive picture of what we do — healing disease, restoring people to their communities and proclaiming the gospel, seeing hope rise in people’s lives where once there was despair.”
Local church partnerships help Hope Rises International work to enhance early detection and the effectiveness of treatments, erase the pain and stigma of these diseases, and bridge research gaps that lead to improved care and access to health.
“In today’s world, the deepest wounds of exclusion remain, whether due to disability, ethnicity, refugee status or other social stigmas,” Simmons said. “While we strive to provide physical healing and relief to those afflicted with NTDs, we desire to restore them to lives of dignity and hope.”
New funding initiatives from major pharmaceutical companies are helping organizations like Hope Rises International expand their reach in treating neglected tropical diseases. Visit Hope Rises to learn more about their mission since 1906, one in which hope rises all over the world in the name of Jesus. For more information, visit www.hoperises.org.
